Chinese Academy of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Sciences: China Water Conservancy: Today in History (1949-2010)

On February 28, 1978, Li Xiannian, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, gave instructions on the construction of Longyangxia Hydropower Station: "The construction of Longyangxia Hydropower Station and the development of more than a dozen cascade hydropower stations between Longyangxia and Qingtongxia are of great scale, great economic benefits, arduous and glorious tasks." 

From February 28 to March 5, 1983, the State Planning Commission and China Rural Development Research Center organized a demonstration Conference on Xiaolangdi Reservoir Project in Beijing. In the name of Song Ping, Director of the State Planning Commission, and Du Runsheng, Director of the China Rural Development Research Center, the Conference submitted the Report of the Xiaolangdi Demonstration Conference to the State Council.

On February 28, 1998, Wen Jiabao, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, gave instructions to flood control facilities reflecting Anhui Province: "Strengthening the construction of water conservancy facilities should be combined with the flood control work of this year (1998). First of all, the dangerous sections and major hidden dangers of flood control facilities should be solved to ensure that they are safe."

From February 28 to March 1, 2000, the National Conference of Directors of Water Resources was held in Beijing. The meeting identified the key points for future water resources development in the western region: first, to improve the ecological environment as the fundamental and entry point, to formulate water resources planning; second, to focus on water-saving irrigation; third, to optimize the allocation of water resources to strengthen the unified management of water resources in the basin and region; fourth, to implement the necessary cross-regional and cross-basin water transfer from a long-term and overall perspective. Wang Shucheng, Minister of Water Resources, stressed that there must be new ideas for the development of water resources in the western region. We should correctly grasp the relationship between population, resources, environment and economic and social development, and deal with the relationship between part and whole, short-term and long-term, so as to realize the sustainable utilization of water resources and the sustainable development of economy and society in the western region. 

On February 28, 2001, the State Council convened the 95th Premier's Office Meeting. Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council listened to the reports of the Ministry of Water Resources and the Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the development and management of water resources and ecosystem construction in the Tarim River Basin, and approved the "Opinions on the Implementation of Recent Governance of the Tarim River Basin". Premier Zhu Rongji pointed out that the governance of the Tarim River is a major event for long-term stability, benefit the country and the people, benefit the present age, benefit the Qianqiu; it is another important practical step to implement the strategy of the western development of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. We should speed up the comprehensive harnessing of the Tarim River as we attach importance to the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, and strive to basically complete the 10-year plan in five years. 

On February 28, 2006, the construction of Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station, the largest artificial sandstone system in China, was officially started. The artificial sandstone system consists of Taiping Material Farm, Mayanpo Sandstone Processing System and 31km aggregate conveyor line, with a total investment of about 1020 million yuan. The system is located in Suijiang County and Shuifu County, Yunnan Province. It is scheduled to be completed and put into operation on March 1, 2007. It will be in operation until the completion of Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station in 2014. It will undertake the task of supplying 30 million tons of sand and aggregate needed for concrete pouring into the main project of Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station. 

On February 28, 2007, the unified dispatching of water volume in the dry season of the Pearl River was successfully completed. Since September 6, 2006, water resources departments have implemented centralized water supply dispatching eight times, which has effectively guaranteed the water supply security in Macao, Zhuhai and other places, and improved the local water environment. 

On February 28, 2008, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution was amended and adopted by the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress at its 32nd meeting and promulgated by Decree No. 87 of the President of the People's Republic of China, which came into effect on June 1, 2008. There are 8 chapters and 92 articles, including general rules, standards and plans for water pollution prevention and control, supervision and management of water pollution prevention and control, measures for water pollution prevention and control, protection of drinking water sources and other special water bodies, treatment of water pollution accidents, legal liabilities, supplementary rules, etc. The Act was passed on 11 May 1984 and amended on 15 May 1996. 

On February 28, 2009, the unified water dispatch of the Pearl River during the dry season of 2008-2009, organized and implemented by the General Defense Department and the Ministry of Water Resources, was successfully completed. This dispatch started in late November 2008 and lasted for more than three months. During the dispatch period, the main pumping stations in Zhuhai pumped 78.06 million m3 of fresh water, 20.93 million m3 of raw water from Australia, about 210,000 m3 of raw water from Australia per day, and the chlorine content of water supply was below 100 mg/L, which ensured the safety of water supply in the Pearl River Delta areas such as Macao and Zhuhai.